Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary condition that affects the exocrine glands and leads to the production of excessively thick mucus that blocks the intestines, pancreatic ducts, and even bronchi. Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure for cystic fibrosis, but a range of treatments is available to reduce or prevent complications and control the symptoms of this condition. Depending on the patient’s needs, the doctors and healthcare professionals can set up a care plan. Also, to monitor the condition, regular appointments are crucial. Effective treatments and care plans to deal with cystic fibrosis Exercise Physical activities like swimming, running, and playing football can help in clearing mucus from the patient’s lungs. Also, such activities will improve the patient’s overall physical strength. It is best to consult a physiotherapist who can give advice on the right physical activities and exercises depending on the patient’s health condition. Medicines Various medicines are available in the market to deal with cystic fibrosis, and these can be inhaled, swallowed, or injected according to the doctor’s instructions. Doctors can prescribe antibiotics to treat and prevent chest infections. Medicines are also available to make coughing easier and to make the mucus thin. Some medications help in widening the airways, making breathing easier for the patient.

A condition where patches of skin become inflamed, itchy, red, cracked, and rough is known as eczema, and blisters may also occur sometimes in this condition. Babies and children are more prone to eczema as it usually develops in the first year of life, although it can occur at any point in an individual’s life. Some people outgrow the condition, while others continue to suffer from it. Starting from the face, the disease usually spreads to the hands and feet. Older children tend to be affected on the elbow and knees, the neck, wrists, ankles, and feet. Causes The specific cause of eczema remains unknown, but it is believed to develop due to genetic and environmental factors. This is not a contagious disease. It can run in families, and if a parent is suffering from this disease, the child is more likely to develop it too. Also, when family members have hay fever, asthma, or other allergies, the child can become more prone to it. Allowing moisture out and germs in due to problems in the skin barrier could also be a cause of eczema. It is caused by the body’s inability to repair damage to the skin’s barrier, due to a mutation in the gene called filaggrin, which is important for skin formation.

Prostate cancer occurs among men and usually, among the elderly. It also happens to be one of the slowest growing, non-aggressive forms of cancer where the survival rate is quite high. But that does not mean that you do not seek treatment, in fact, you should consult your doctor and even a specialist, to seek effective treatment at the earliest. Even though this form of cancer if left untreated will eventually spread to some of the other organs of the body, it is a fact that most patients often die of old age or due to some other reason. Hence, prostate cancer comes with a 99% 5-year rate, 98% at 10-year high and 97% at a 15-year high. Most doctors use staging as a diagnostic tool which can effectively aid the doctor in providing quick treatment. Staging and the different types of prostate cancer Doctors often use staging as an effective way to describe if the cancer is localized, if it has spread to other parts of the body or whether it has undergone metastasis. Stage 1 During this stage, the cancer is localized and located within the prostate. It has not yet spread to the other organs and therefore is treatable.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disorder in which breathing becomes difficult due to chronic inflammation in the lungs. COPD is characterized by shortness of breath, weakness, recurrent lung infections, congestion and tightness in the chest region, excessive production of phlegm, wheezing, and coughing. Types COPD comprises a group of several lung disorders such as emphysema, bronchiectasis, and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema It can develop due to smoking, which is known to damage the alveoli of the lungs. As smoking causes chronic inflammation and tissue damage in the lungs, a decreased number of alveoli, which are less elastic, are available for normal lung function, leading to emphysema. Chronic bronchitis It develops due to chronic inflammation in the airways. Inflammation in airways causes tissue scar formation and thickening. Excessive production of mucus further blocks the airways, leading to breathing problems. Bronchiectasis In bronchiectasis, frequent infections of the respiratory tract cause a dilation of the airways. The inflammation due to infections leads to excessive mucus production, and this leads to a severe blockage of the airways. Diagnosis The diagnosis for COPD may include the following tests. Blood tests A blood test will measure the concentrations of the arterial blood gases, hemoglobin count and complete blood count.

Cancer that originates in the kidneys is known as renal cancer or kidney cancer; 90% of adult renal cancers can be categorized as renal cell carcinoma. In children, kidney cancer is more likely to take the form of a condition called Wilms’ tumor. Kidney cancer is often diagnosed in its early stages when the tumors are small and confined to the kidneys. A late diagnosis can make treatment more difficult. Hence, it is important to be able to recognize the symptoms associated with this condition. Symptoms of renal cancer In its early stages, kidney cancer often has no discernable symptoms. Cancer detected at this stage is mostly a result of routine health checkups. A CT scan is the most common test through which kidney cancer is detected. As the tumor grows bigger, signs and symptoms may begin to appear. The most common among these are as listed: Urine that appears pinkish or red because of the presence of blood Persistent pain in the back or side of the body A lump at the side or near the abdomen Loss of appetite Tiredness Unexplained weight loss Intermittent fever that is not caused by any other infection Anemia Swelling in the legs or ankles In the later stages of the condition, the tumor may spread to other parts of the body.